US500 Day Trade Setup: Liquidity Pools, Gaps & What’s Next?

The US500 (S&P 500) 4-hour chart recently showed a gap up, followed by a strong move into the previous range highs. This price action likely triggered buy stops and tapped into buy-side liquidity above the prior swing highs. After this liquidity sweep, the market has pulled back and is now consolidating just above a visible gap, which sits slightly below the current price level.

From a Wyckoff perspective, this resembles an upthrust after distribution, where price runs stops above resistance before reversing. The current pullback suggests a potential test of the gap area, which often acts as a magnet for price, especially if there’s unmitigated liquidity left behind.

Using ICT (Inner Circle Trader) concepts, the recent move above the range high can be seen as a raid on buy-side liquidity, followed by a retracement. The gap below current price represents an imbalance, and ICT traders often look for price to revisit such inefficiencies before resuming the trend.

🌐 Fundamental & Sentiment Backdrop

Recent data shows the S&P 500 has experienced a sharp correction in April, with a monthly drop of about 5.75% from the previous month, but it remains up 6.8% year-over-year (YCharts). The market has been volatile, with sentiment shifting due to macroeconomic concerns, including renewed trade tensions (notably new tariffs), a mixed earnings season, and questions about the Federal Reserve’s next moves (IG).

Wall Street analysts have recently revised their year-end targets lower, citing increased risks from tariffs and slowing earnings growth (Yahoo Finance). The VIX is elevated (28.45), and the put/call ratio is above 1, indicating heightened hedging and caution among market participants (YCharts).

🏦 Wyckoff & ICT Concepts in Play
🏗️ Wyckoff: The recent rally into the highs and subsequent pullback fits the upthrust after distribution narrative. If the market fails to reclaim the highs, a move back into the gap (potentially as a sign of weakness) is likely.
💧 ICT: The gap below current price is a clear area of interest. If price trades down to fill this gap, watch for a reaction—either a bounce (if demand steps in) or a continuation lower if the gap fails to hold.
💡 Day Trade Idea (Not Intra-day)

Scenario: If price trades down to fill the gap just below the current level (around 5,300–5,320), monitor for a bullish reaction (such as a strong daily close, a bullish order block, or a clear rejection wick).

Trade Plan:

🕵️‍♂️ Wait for price to fill the gap and show a bullish daily signal.
🎯 Enter a day trade long at the next day’s open if confirmation is present (e.g., a bullish daily candle close or a break above the previous day’s high).
🛑 Place a stop loss just below the gap or the most recent swing low.
📈 Target the previous high near 5,400 for a day trade, or consider scaling out if momentum continues.

Alternative: If price fails to hold the gap and closes below it on the daily chart, consider a day trade short the following day, targeting the next liquidity pool below (e.g., 5,200).

⚠️ Disclaimer

This analysis is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Trading involves risk, and you should do your own research or consult with a professional before making any trading decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.